The Mad March Run!

With snow on the ground as we all awoke, we did wonder "Why did we let these two plan a run in the dirty, wet, muck filled lanes of the New Forest?"

The answer was of course…beacause it was a brilliant idea!

We reckoned 20 MGs (or more) enjoyed a grand but chilly day out covering 40 miles of superb New Forest roads unknown to most of us!

The Ringwood Countryside Museum houses a MGA Roadster and is now a firm 1020 ‘Coffee Start’ venue. Snow was on the ground when most of us woke up but it did not deter one of the largest 1020 turnouts for some time! Nigel Knowles, the Area Secretary of Salisbury MGOC joined us in a BGT kindly loaned to him by Mike Rolls MG Services (his B being ‘fixed’ there).

The route WILL be run again for those who missed this early season 1020 opener… so no clues will be given here… The first half was thrilling as the second half was more sweeping with higher average speeds – all three fords were at ‘low tide’, luckily! Bovine and equine deposits littered the tarmac but all MGs skipped nimbly around most piles!

The Hedges MGB was most fortunate to be able to follow the Oates/Catterall crewed SV which displayed some “Aussie Rules” navigation… Rod Brough was an ‘absentee landlord’ at The Empress of Blandings as he was attending a family Christening. His staff did a fine job and the food was superb. Sorry to say no 1009ers were able to join us despite being invited – especially as it is ‘their pub’ (many 1020er Quizzers recognised the name from the Quiz League team sheet).

Roll of Honour : Kevan Funnell BGT, Rose and Mick Gledhill Midget, Julia and Terry Dickson Midget, The de Reucks MG ZT 260, The Lowes MG ZT, The Baileys BGT, The Heaths BGT, Adrian Oates & Mark Catterall MG SV, Mike Phillips BGT, Keith Dorey MGB V8 Roadster, The Starrs MGB, The Kinsellas MGB, The Holloways MGB, The Fultons MGB & MGF, The Carpenters MGC, Roadster Nigel Knowles in an MGB GT Loaner, The Charltons MGB, Spencer Brown MGB, Roadster Hedges N.P. MGB Roadster, Spencer’s Mum and Dad and Corinne in a Jeepy thing!

Strangely, the Kinsellas and the Starrs failed to arrive for lunch but Dick Jolly and John Cobb were there before us! We suspect they went directly in an unmarked car!